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Sources told Capitol Action Weekly the president wants to dedicate an environmental reserve in nearby Yolo County. But the underlying reasons for his visit, not surprisingly, probably have far more to do with Democratic politics than the environment.

First, he wants to give a boost to Congressman Vic Fazio, D-West Sacramento, a top Democrat in the House and a Clinton loyalist, who faces a tough re-election campaign next year in his increasingly conservative district.

Second, he is all but certain to be joined by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both of whom could use a boost of their own but for different reasons -- Boxer, because she is considered vulnerable next year when she faces the likely GOP contender, San Diego Mayor Susan Golding, and Feinstein because she is in the midst of deciding whether she'll run for governor.

For local politicians, any presidential visit -- particularly when a president is a member of one's own party -- is pure gold. Regardless of its actual news merits, such a visit draws local, regional and national media, and such exposure is often difficult to come by for local pols who spend much of their time scrambling for positive coverage.

Clinton, of course, is not running for re-election, but the enormous prestige of his office and the attention paid to his visit can spill over onto those who are. Moreover, despite the scandals of his presidency and his legion of critics, the president remains popular in California which, despite its image to the contrary, tends to be moderate to conservative in its politics. Feinstein, Fazio and Boxer, among others, hope that popularity will work to their advantage and they probably won't be disappointed.

Since his first term, Clinton has visited California more than two dozen times, far more than any other state. Before, he had his own, obvious reasons for courting vote-rich California. Now, he hopes to use his political prestige to help fellow Democrats in Congress, where Republicans run both houses.

One intriguing sidelight: Will Air Force One land at McClellan Air Force Base, the closure of which Clinton approved and which is now gripped by a bitter privatization dispute? Political sources in the Capitol say the president will avoid McClellan at all cost.

Stay tuned...